Pondicherry (or Puducheri) means "the new settlement." It was a French settlement comprising of Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam besides Pondicherry. A unique thing about Pondicherry is that it spreads into several states. While Karaikal is in Tamil Nadu, Mahe is in Kerala, and Yanam is a part of Andhra Pradesh. Situated around 200 kilometres south of Chennai, Pondicherry is today a union territory where the French connection on the architecture and culture of the place is strongly visible as a result of the centuries-old relation with the French power. However, the fame of Pondicherry lies not in its French connection but its relation with the saint-philosopher Aurobindo Ghosh who founded his ashram here. Sri Aurobindo was a political revolutionary who reached Pondicherry in 1920 and established a place for peaceful and harmonious living. Today the ashram is home to nationals from every part of the world who come here to find peace and solitude. Pondicherry is a planned city unlike most other places in India. All the roads meet at right angles according to the grid system and a long Petit Canal divides the city on the seaward side. The French township is on the sea-facing side while the other is on the Indian side.
More than anything else, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, where Sri Aurobindo and the Mother lived for the most parts of their lives, attracts tourists to this little city. The Pondicherry Museum is home to some of the most exquisite collections on architecture and sculpture. Pondicherry also has a pleasant beach alongside the promenade and historical monuments. Some of the other interesting sites include the Bharti and Bharathidasan Memorial museums and the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Pondicherry is part of a region rich in architectural and cultural wealth. The grand temples of this region are a matter of great pride. Auroville was established as a tribute to Sri Aurobindo. Chidambaram is a temple town in Tamil Nadu famous for its temple of Nataraja, the dancing form of Lord Shiva. Thiruvannamalai is also an important pilgrimage site for the Shaivites from across South India who visit it to pay their reverence at Arunachaleshwara Temple.
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